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A. L. LINEFF. CLOSED GONDUIT FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

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A. L. LINEFF.

I CLOSED GONDUIT FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS; No. 480,409.

Patented Aug. 9, 1892.

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Illll' lllllll UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

ALEXANDER LOGIN LINEFF, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

CLOSED CONDUIT FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,409, dated August 9, 1892.

Application filed June 30, 1891- To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER LOGIN LI- NEFF,of 88 High Road, Chiswick, London,i n the county of Middlesex, England,have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Electric Conductors for Traction Purposes, of which the followingis aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in the means for supplying electricity for traction purposes described in the specification of Letters Patent granted to me and bearing date March 18, 1890, No. 423,874.

In the system of electric traction forming the subject of the above-mentioned patent two parallel magnetic rails are employed, situ- 7 ate between the track, one standing on a level wit-h the road and the other sunk in the ground. These rails are connected, when magnetized by a passing electro-magnet, with the main electric conductor, to which the work ing current is supplied by a loose flexible strip of iron extending along the track. It is an electro-magnet situated below the traveling carriage, by which magnetism is induced in the rails, thereby causing them to lift the flexible strip underlying them and maintain electrical connection therewith during the passage of the carriage along the track. The current of electricity thus supplied to the magnetic rails is taken off in two parallel circuits, one of which goes throughthe motorengine in the carriage and the other through the coil of wire that charges the magnet, the return being through the carriage-wheels and track-rails, back to the generating-station. The main electric conductor is inclosed in a seated channel, the base of the magnetic rails forming the covering of the channel.

The objects of the present invention are, first, to reduce leakage of the main or supply current between the continuous conductor and the base of the magnetic rails, and, second, to enable the conductor to be laid down in a more perfect and expeditious manner than heretofore.

In the specification above referred to a naked copper conductor is laid directly upon the insulating-tiles constituting the channel, thus forming a continuous contact between the tiles and the conductor throughout the track. In consequence of this arrangement leakage is liable to take place from the main Serial No. 397,969. (No model.)

to the surface magnetic rails by a path which comprises the whole of the portion of the surface of the insulating-tiles lying between the main and the magnetic rails.

It has also been found in practice that the metal strip which serves to produce the contact between the copper conductor and the magnetic surface rails is liable to come into contact with the sides of the channel formed by the insulating-tiles, thereby further reducing the length of traverse for the leakagecurrent, and so increasing the leakage. To diminish this leakage of the current, I increase'the length and reduce the area of its path. This I effect by increasing the depth and width of the channel formed by the insulating-tiles, and I rest the copper conductor on earthenware insulating-supports placed at intervals alongthe channel. The electric conductor I make of U shape or similar section, so as to present aconsiderable amount of rigidity in a vertical direction, and I place it in the center of the channel. The conductor will thus be completely surrounded by air, except at these supports. The further to increase the path for the surface-leakage, I may form longitudinal grooves in the side walls of the channel, and I may also make the supports for the copper conductor in the form of oil-insulators. The metal strip is prevented from coming into contact with the sides of the channel by means of guiding-pieces secured at intervals to its under side, which guides enter between the side walls of the copper conductor and regulate its vertical movements.

I will now proceed to describe and illustrate my invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows in cross-section that portion of the track which relates to my present improvements, the copper conductor being supported by oilsealed insulators placed at intervals along the channel. Fig. 2 shows alongitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 shows in cross-section the like portion of the track slightly modified, the copper conductors here being supported on earthenware insulators placed at intervals along the channel,the oil seal being omitted. In this example the sides of the channel are represented as provided with longitudinal grooves in order to increase the length of the path of travel for the leakage. Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section of the same. Figs. 5 and (5 illustrate by longitudinal and transverse sections, respectivcly,a method of joining adjacent lengths of the iron strip which forms the transmitter of the electric current; and Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate by side View and transverse section, respectively, a convenient method of joining adjacent lengths of the copper conductor. Fig. 9 represents a transverse section of the channel and a section of a blower and its connection for ventilating the channel.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, A is the contact magnetic rail or that over which the electro-magnet traverses, and B the hidden rail, which connects together electrically through non -magnetic bolts and distancepieces the insulated lengths of the contactrail. G is the copper conductor or main for supplying the working current. This conductor is made of such a trough-like section (shown in Fig. 1, 3, and S) as to presenta considerable amount of rigidity in a vertical direction. On the top of the conductor rests the flexible iron strip F, which serves to connect electrically the conductor with the surface magnetic rail A.

The channel for the reception of the copper conductor or main is composed of tiles H, which I make somewhat deeper and wider than that described in my previously-mentioned specification. The bottom of the channel is made slightly curved, so that moisture may readily drain off. At intervals along the channel are placed insulating-supports I,

provided with stems i, which fit into holes 71, formed to receive them in the tiles H, or they may be fixed in any other suitable manner. These supports I are shown in Fig. 1 and 2 as provided with a downwardly-projecting annular lip z" for dipping into an annular oiltrough it, formed in the bottom of the tile H; or the oil or other insulating liquid may be contained in cups so arranged that any current leaking from the charged main to earth or to the return-conductor, either by way of the surface-rails or otherwise, shall be forced to pass through the liquid insulator.

In carrying out my invention, as illustrated at Figs. 3 and 1, it will be seen that I rely only on an increase in the length and a decrease of the sectional area of the leakage path to reduce the leakage. The insulatingsupports are in this case made without the sealing-lips and the sides of the channel are longitudinally grooved.

I may remark that it is not necessary for the purposes of my invention that the insulating-supports shall be distinct from the tiles. They may equally well form an integral part thereof, the tiles, with the insulating-supports, being separated from one another by the interposition of a similar number of plain channel-tiles.

The copper conductor G is shown as secured to the insulating-supports by means of screws '3, passing through the conductor into plugs of vulcanite or other similar material 1, placed in holes in the upper surface of the supports 1.

In order to prevent any movement of the flexible electric conductor F otherwise than in a vertical direction and so to guard against any accidental contact between it and the sides of the channel, guidesf (see Figs. 3, 5, and 6) are provided on the said conductor to enter between the trough-like sides of the copper conductor G. These guides may conveniently take the form of short pieces of channel-iron, which will also serve the purpose of joining consecutive lengths of the iron strip, as shown in Fig. 5.

The joints between the component parts of the copper conductor G, I arrange as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, where a piece of sheet-copper g is bent so as to clip tightly the exterior of the adjoining parts. The ends of two consecutive portions of the copper conductor are driven into this con meeting-sheath, thereby securing a perfect joint throughout the main.

The manner of leading off the electric current to the coils of the electro-magnet and to the electro motor, respectively, I have not thought it necessary here to explain, as that forms no part of my present invention, and for the like reason I have not thought it necessary to explain the manner of starting and of stopping the carriage.

The ventilation of the sealed channel may be maintained by any suitable meansas, for instance, by a blower L, as shown in Fig. 9- by which a currentof air may be circulated through it for the purpose of taking up any moisture that might otherwise collect therein and of thereby keeping the surface of the channel free from any moisture through which there might bea leakage of current.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination of an electric conductor and a series of separate supports therefor, provided with downwardly-projecting annular lips, and a continuous series of tiles serving as a base for said supports and provided with oil-troughs into which said annular lips enter, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The combination of the copper conductor G, of trough -like section, and the flexible iron conductor F, having junction-pieces f entering between the trough-like sides of the said conductor G for the purpose of preventing the said conductor F from moving otherwise than in a vertical direction, all substantially as herein set forth.

ALEXANDER LOGIN LINEFF.

Witnesses:

W. K. WHITE, H. F. O. GOETZ. 

